The Tracker's Quest: (Forced To Serve #6) (11 page)

“I’m not defending it. I think the Suzerain’s view is as detestable as he is for thinking he can dictate my life or anyone else’s. But whatever I am now or become in the future, my culture is what has made me determined to remain free of all male ownership bonds. It would be worse than foolish to fight for my personal freedom only to turn around and hand it over to you. Go back to Rylen and find a full Siren to mate with. I am never going to be able to give you any more than you’ve already gotten from me. If that’s not enough. . .I will have no regrets to see you walk away from me.”

“Are we destined to always be at odds simply because you think the worst of everything I say about us belonging together?” Ji asked.

Seta turned and started walking out of their shelter. “That is an unfair accusation considering you assume I do not really mean anything I say at all. Since there is no solution to our discussion at this time, I’m going to look for a private place to relieve myself. I suggest you do the same before we resume our trek. Let’s meet back here in a few minutes.”

***

Seta was still fuming over their argument as she refastened her foot coverings. Ji had been gone taking care of his morning needs for a much longer time than she’d expected. Probably brooding over their argument. He brooded a lot.

The wind had picked up and was pushing the sound out toward the desert behind them. If it hadn’t shifted toward their rock shelter momentarily, she might never have heard the rustles and thumps some distance away behind a large expanse of towering stone.

Dropping the bedroll near the larger pack Ji was supposed to carry, she pulled her weapon from its harness and started off in the direction of the sounds.

She came across Ji being beaten by several males who looked almost as bad as he did. He must have gotten in some good punches on his own before they hit his head with something sharp enough to put a bleeding gash in it. The sight of his life force pouring down his face ignited a fire in her chest.

Ji’s weapon, which he obviously hadn’t been able to use, was the only one fully charged. Her weapon was only charged enough to take out one of them because she’d not found extra batteries among Arghane’s supplies. For all she knew, Arghane had set them up to be found by the males assaulting Ji. If he had, and they lived, she would see Arghane dead for his duplicity.

Her aim was accurate and lethal as she shot and killed the largest fist-swinging male mid-punch. The other two dropped Ji to turn and face her. Two weapons were aimed her direction before Ji’s unconscious body hit the ground.

Seta cleared her throat. “My apologies for shooting your comrade. I wish only to rescue my mate. Leave and I will not harm any of you further.” She watched them look at each other and smile.

“The alien male was lying. I knew there was a female with him. No male who looks like him would ever travel without the most beautiful of companions,” one said.

Seta watched the other nod and grin as he adjusted the power setting on his weapon.

“After we have some fun, there will be a nice reward for her return. Suzerain Trax pays well for the return of his runaways,” the second informed the first.

Seta rolled the charge wheel under her thumb. It was set to use the rest on her next blast, but whether the charge would be enough to stop either of the remaining males, she wasn’t sure. She would just have to contend with them both personally if it didn’t.

Zorinda. I could use your help with this
, she sent.

Feeling a stirring in her gut, she lifted the weapon into the air as if willing to give it up.

Laughing at her easy capitulation, the remaining males advanced on her with their weapons aimed and ready.

Just as they were in front of her, she lowered the weapon and blasted the one nearest to her. He fell at her feet as she danced out of the way. When her feet were on solid ground once more, she found herself looking down the barrel of a humming Ethosian laser weapon. Seta knew it was a full charge and a loud, echoing click told her it was now set to kill.

“No more resistance, female. I’m glad not to have to share you or the money you’re worth, but you will do as I say, if you want to live.”

Her eyes flared hot as she stepped forward and wrenched the weapon from his hand. It fired and bounced off a rock before she tossed it aside. The hand not gripping the weapon shot out to put a chokehold on her attacker’s neck. She squeezed harder when he clawed at her wrist, but his fingers were unable to break her grip on him. When he went lax, Seta squeezed still more until she heard a snap. Then she finally let go, knowing that she—or rather Zorinda—had at last broken his neck.

She stooped to check the second male she shot to assure herself he was dead. And he was. It wasn’t necessary to check the first, his gaping head wound spilled his life force on the ground, confirming her aim had been true.

She hurried to Ji and bent to feel his pulse. It was not very strong, but he was at least alive. The question was how would she get him back to where Arghane waited? Even if Zorinda could make her stronger, she still couldn’t carry the damaged Siren for nearly a half day’s walk. He was a lot taller so even dragging him presented logistical problems for someone of her average female stature.

Seta gently straightened Ji’s body and felt around for broken bones as she pondered a solution to their dilemma. The click and whirl of a number of laser weapons activating had her raising her head in dismay. She was completely surrounded by a number of smiling males, all with fully charged weapons pointed at her.

“Greetings,” the most handsome one said, smiling down at her. “Who did me the great favor of taking out the latest set of Suzerain Trax’s thieves?”

Seta stood warily. “If you are referring to the dead males, I am the one who killed them. Do with me what you will, but I respectfully ask you to take the Siren somewhere he can receive medical care. He was hurt trying to protect me.”

One eyebrow shot up in the air as his gaze fell to the ground again. “A Siren, you say? How fascinating. I’ve never met one before, just read about them. What exactly is a Siren doing out here in the rocky wilds of Ethos?”

“His name is Ji Warro and he is my fellow officer onboard a Peace Alliance rescue ship. He followed me to Ethos. He is—the Siren is my mate,” Seta said, lying for both their sakes. Though she worried about Ji’s head wound, she was glad he wasn’t conscious to hear her speech after the fight they’d had earlier. He’d just take it wrong.

The handsome male smiled more widely. Seta had the odd thought that, next to Ji, he was one of the most attractive males she’d ever met in all her travels. Zorinda must have agreed he was no threat because she didn’t feel any flutters at all in her midsection.

It was the male’s eyes, Seta decided. His eyes were very kind—even with the weapon still aimed at her. Then suddenly the weapon wasn’t pointing her way anymore. He lifted it into the air and used his thumb to set it back into a safe mode.

“I am Garmon of Ker. Most consider me the
suzerain
of the mining canton, even though the horrid title is not what my people call me. I answer only to Garmon. What name do you answer to, my fair-haired beauty?”

Seta nodded, swallowed, and bowed her head. When she raised it again, she lifted her chin before she spoke. “Faced with your kindness, I regret to share my identity, Garmon of Ker. I am Seta of Trax.”

She heard the males around Garmon break out laughing in disbelief. Some sneered. Some laughed. Garmon raised a hand and they all stopped.

“Seta of Trax. Are you a runaway from your sire’s canton?” Garmon asked.

Seta stared into Garmon’s gaze with the truth on her tongue.

Say yes
, Zorinda ordered.

But she couldn’t. She looked at Ji. “I don’t know what I am. The Siren paid my father for my freedom, but Suzerain Trax has not forgiven me for fleeing Ethos with my dual-sib many years ago. My father’s second drove us here and made sure we went deeply into the mining canton’s lands before leaving. I am sure Chief Arghane thought we would not survive those we would find here. My father would get the Siren’s mating fee as well as having the pleasure of my death to enjoy.”

Garmon snorted and glanced around. “Your father is a sanctimonious bastard who cares only about money and nothing about what’s right and fair. He may get by with his barbarism in his own canton, but the rest of Ethos doesn’t work that way. He’s wise to keep himself hidden within his compound.”

Seta looked around. “Until Arghane dropped us off, I didn’t know the mining canton existed. My previous mates were indentured and stayed on my father’s land. When you say the rest of Ethos, are you referring to the mining canton?”

Garmon nodded. “The mining canton yes, but there are other cantons, including those who do not recognize such archaic boundaries. There are all kinds of communities, Seta of Trax. Few are united. We live independently, which allows males like your father to rule their own canton with a very tight fist. He deals in fair-haired females, a popular commodity on Ethos. This is the other reason he gets by with his lawlessness. What did he make you do to your hair? I’ve never seen a fair-haired female with streaks of brown and black before.”

Seta’s hands went to her hair. Why had Ji not said anything? “I have seen no mirrors for a while. I was unaware of changes.”

“Relax. It’s not like the streaks made you ugly,” Garmon teased. “I mean the Siren must have liked you with them to want to be your mate.”

Seta’s hand dropped. “The Siren is delusional about me. I know I am not a suitable mate for him, but he insists.”

Garmon laughed as he motioned to the soldiers. “Some males are strong-minded in matters of affection. I’m the same way so I can’t really say much about your Siren. Crill, make something we can lay the Siren in to carry him. We’re taking them both back with us. And be gentle until Lira can check out his wounds. His head gash looks nasty.”

Seta stepped aside as males moved around Ji and lifted him into a large swath of fabric to carry him. She followed slowly, walking at Garmon’s side.

“You do not scare me the way other Ethosian males do,” Seta commented, not sure why she felt the need to inform him of it.

She almost smiled when Garmon snorted beside her. It was strange to feel herself leaning towards trust with a male she barely knew. The only other male she’d felt trust for so instantly had turned out to be the Demon of Synar. She studied Garmon suspiciously, but could almost feel Zorinda scoffing at her concerns.

“If those within the sheltered walls of your father’s canton knew about the real Ethos, your father would have been overthrown years ago,” Garmon declared. “We don’t aggressively go out to harm or steal or bargain for females. The only deal I ever made with Suzerain Trax has cost us much time and trouble to protect ourselves from his recovery thieves. However, we have taken in runaways a few times.”

“What are my father’s guards trying to steal back?” Seta asked.

“Not a what—it’s a
who
,” Garmon said as they neared their transports. “But I am never sending her back there or giving her up. She deserves a better life and we can give her one. She belongs to us now. The suzerain needs to accept that the money I paid is all he is ever going to get.”

Seta sighed and frowned. “My father’s words cannot to be trusted. He has no real honor, only the appearance of it.”

“How about his daughter’s words? Can they be trusted?” Garmon asked, stopping to throw his gear into one of the transports.

Seta sighed again. “My weapon is empty and my male protector is hurt. There is little I can do to rebel. With your permission, I need to go back and collect our meager belongings. I promise I won’t be long. These words you can definitely trust.”

Garmon looked at her feet. “I don’t know how you’re managing to walk anywhere in such inappropriate footwear.”

Seta’s gaze dropped to her feet as well. “Under my footwear Ji wrapped my feet with medical bandages. It has helped.”

“Sounds like the Siren cares a lot about your comfort,” Garmon said.

Seta nodded. “Yes. The feeling is mutual. It is only the mating I’m questioning, not the caring.”

Garmon smiled. “That answer proves to me you really are as young as you look. I’ll go back with you to collect your things. You can ride back with me and Crill. Rohan better get your Siren to some help as soon as he can.”

Seta nodded again, unafraid—and not just because of Zorinda. Something told her she and Ji were both safe with these males. “I am grateful for your help, Garmon of Ker.”

“I am grateful you did my dirty work, Seta of Trax. Once the next set of thieves finds those decaying bodies you and your Siren left, I think it’s going to be a while before your father comes looking for my treasure again.”

“Your treasure?” Seta watched Garmon shrug off her query. It was the same term her father had used for the child.

“You’ll see what I mean soon enough,” he said.

Seta let the subject drop as they headed back to gather her and Ji’s supplies. When the time came for her and Ji to return to Arghane, she wanted to have what they needed to escape.

Chapter 11

The transport carrying Ji had left by the time they returned. She climbed with Garmon into the remaining transport where the driver patiently waited for them to be seated before starting the vehicle. Similar to its desert counterpart, the transport lifted just above the ground as it passed through the air. They wove around the rocky landscape and she had the feeling their speed had been adjusted for her comfort. The farther they went into the area the steeper the inclines became until they were surrounded by steep stone inclines on all sides.

They stopped in front of a giant flat stone seemingly held upright by a series of chain pulleys. It was carved ornately with symbols and covered in Ethosian writing. Seta attempted to read it, but it was not the one she had been taught as a child.

Shall I tell you what it says? I do not read ancient Ethosian, but the energy of the words is clear. Part of it is a plea to the Creators.